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With the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza nearly upon us, we thought it an apt time to reflect on some of the items that make the historic Italian speedway one of the best. Sure, not each of our picks is entirely related to racing, but we found them all compelling, nonetheless. Click through the gallery above to read along, and then tell us where we went wrong, in comments.

We've been waiting for this one for quite some time. McLaren's last official entry into the supercar world was the too-hot F1 which ended production in the late 1990s. But now Lamborghini and Ferrari have a new kid to do battle with -- the MP4-12C, which has been developed entirely in-house and derived from Formula 1 technologies.

Just like the larger C70 convertible, Volvo's funky C30 hatchback will receive a funky new front end for the 2010 model year. The revised hatch will make its official debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, but we've got the official images and details ahead of time.

Creating a really good convertible is tricky business, especially when the coupe or sedan it’s based on is such a strong, well-liked car. Simply lobbing the roof off causes a whole host of rigidity and stiffness problems—not to mention design dilemmas—and if these issues aren’t properly addressed, the new-found droptop might just be a big mess. The Infiniti G37, for example, is one of our favorite sport coupes, but in its cabriolet guise, the chassis proves to be a bit more flexible than we’d like. Don’t even get us started on worse offenders like the Chrysler Sebring and Toyota Solara.

Folks who’ve been considering a Turbo Coupe purchase—especially those with some mechanical know-how—will find prices are surprisingly affordable, with fixer-uppers generally available for under $1000. Be warned though; while these cars have longevity and reliability on their side (more than a few TC owners attest to topping 200,000 miles with just basic maintenance), bringing one back from the dead can become a pricey endeavor.

Now that Ford is getting all excited about turbocharged engines, we thought it might be nice to revisit its original turbo effort from the 1980s. Long before Dearborn coined the term EcoBoost there was just plain boost, force-feeding Ford’s venerable 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Enthusiasts will recognize this engine as the force behind other Blue Oval 80s creations like the Mustang SVO and Merkur XR4Ti, but the unmistakably-aero appearance of the 1987-1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe holds a place in our enthusiast heart as having the best combination of performance, styling, sportiness, comfort, and gadgetry.

As subtle as an IED going off next door. As indulgent as making out on a park bench with a pretty woman. As offensive as wearing a baby seal fur coat to a PETA convention. This is the 2010 Ford SVT Raptor. In these sickeningly PC times, we're grateful that Ford mustered the guts to introduce the Raptor. Not only is this a full-size pickup, but it's a purpose-built machine designed for high-speed off-road running…not exactly what the Tread Lightly organization had in mind. This truck won't win many friends in Washington, DC or at the local Sierra Club. For ...

For some time now we’ve been doing brief, direct comparisons of test cars at the request of our readers. Naturally, anyone considering a car will have a short list of other cars that are considered competitive. We think the information requested has been helpful, so we’re formalizing the idea in a new series called Showdown. This is the first article in this series, so let us know what you think, in comments. Someone shopping for a convertible around the $40k mark would probably have at least one of these cars in mind. Since these three cars are full of surprises, ...

Let’s not compare it to the Toyota Prius, as difficult as that may be. And let us preface this by saying we love small Hondas. The Fit, S2000, and Civic (especially the Si) are some of our favorite cars to drive. With that in mind, let’s take another opportunity to discuss the 2010 Honda Insight.

World and European motorcycle stunt-riding champion Chris Pfeiffer has been honored by BMW today, as the Motorrad arm of the German manufacturer has announced an eponymous tribute to the rider—the F800R Chris Pfeiffer.